While Japanese star Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the tournament earned attention off the court, Poland’s Świątek enjoyed a successful day on it.

Świątek headed into the tournament with ideal preparation after winning the Italian Open final 6-0, 6-0 against the Czech Republic’s Karolína Plíšková.

Świątek’s French Open title defence began in similar fashion as she claimed the opening set 6-0 against her best friend Kaja Juvan of Slovenia.

The second set proved a tighter affair but Świątek eventually sealed a 6-0, 7-5 victory.

Tournament organisers presented Świątek with a bouquet of flowers after the match, with the reduced crowd - under COVID-19 protocol - singing happy birthday.

The United States’ Sofia Kenin, who lost to Świątek in last year’s final, triumphed in a first-round meeting between Grand Slam champions.

The 2020 Australian Open winner secured a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, who was a shock French Open champion in 2017.

Canada’s Bianca Andreescu - herself a former Grad Slam champion - was the highest-ranked player to suffer defeat in the women’s singles draw.

The world number seven won the opening set of her match against Tamara Zidanšek, but the Slovenian fought back to win 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-2), 9-7.

Serena Williams was also in action, with the American meeting Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu in the French Open’s first night match, held under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof.

Williams won in straights sets, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer played his first French Open match since 2019 as he stepped up his comeback from a knee injury.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion won 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 against Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

World number two Daniil Medvedev of Russia also advanced to the second round of the tournament.

Medvedev had never won a match at the French Open prior to today, losing all four previous first-round ties.

The 25-year-old, who has notably struggled on clay courts to date, overcame Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.